Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;ceecho&#39;

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named ‘ECHO’ characterized by its medium sized blooms with yellow-orange ray florets and prolific branching; natural season flower date August 15-25; blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] ‘ECHO’ is a product of a breeding and selection program for outdoor pot mums (garden mums) which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a daisy type flower, a natural season flower date around August 15-25; blooming for a period of 5 weeks. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant ‘ECHO’ is a seedling resulting from the open pollination among groups of chrysanthemum cultivars maintained under the control of the inventor for breeding purposes. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as one flowering plant by Rob Noodelijk on a cultivated field in Rijsenhout Holland in August 2000. The plant has been asexually reproduced by cuttings in greenhouses at Rijsenhout Holland. The new cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

[0003]FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

[0004]FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

[0005]FIG. 3 shows the petiole and foliage of the new cultivar

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown out door in Rijsenhout, Holland under natural day length and temperature and planted week 22 in 2000 and 2001. The natural blooming date of this crop was August 15-25 (week 34). The average height of the plants was 28 cms. No growth retardants were used. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with yellow-orange ray florets and a yellow center blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

[0007] From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘ECHO’ is ‘GABRIELLE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. pending). When ‘GABRIELLE’ and ‘ECHO’ are being compared the following differences are noticed: The differences of ‘GABRIELLE’ and ‘ECHO’ are (1) Flower size and color. ‘ECHO’ has smaller flowers. The upper side of the ray-florets of ‘ECHO’ is more yellow and not so orange. (2) Natural blooming date. ‘ECHO’ flowers much earlier than ‘GABRIELLE’.

[0008] The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘ECHO’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society color chart, edition 1995. TABLE 1 Botanical Description of cultivar ‘ECHO’ Bud Size Small ;cross-section 0.9 cm, height 1.0 cm Outside Color Orange-red 31A Involucral bracts 2 rows, length 9 cm, width 3 mm Involucral bracts among disc- Not present florets Involucral bracts color Green 138B Bloom Type Daisy Height Medium. 1.5 cm Size Medium Fully Expanded 4.0-4.3 cm Number of blooms per branch Approx. 5-7 blooms per branch Performance on the plant 5 weeks Seeds (if crossed) Produced in large quantities, ovate grey-brown 199A, 1½ mm in length. Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slightly Color Center of the flower (disc-florets) Immature yellow 13A Mature yellow 13A Color of upper surface of the ray- Yellow-orange 15A florets Color of the lower surface of the Orange-red 31A ray-florets Tonality from Distance A garden mum with yellow-orange flowers and a yellow disc Color of the upper surface of the Yellow-orange 15B ray-florets after aging of the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 32-34 Cross-section Flat Longitudinal axis of majority Straight Length of corolla tube 0.5 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 2.3-2.5 cm Ray-floret width 0.6 cm Ratio length / width Medium Shape of tip Rounded Disc florets Disc diameter 1.5 cm Distribution of disc florets Numerous, clearly visible at all stages of flowering Shape Tubular Color Yellow 13A Receptacle shape Domed Flat Reproductive Organs Stamen (present in disc florets Thick, 4 mm in length only) Stamen color Yellow-green 144A Pollen Present Pollen color Yellow 7A Styles Thin Style color Yellow-green 144A Style Length 4 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 144A Stigma Width 1 mm Ovaries Enclosed in calyx Plant Shape Grown as a spray-type pot mum, outdoor mounded and round Growth habit Spreading Growth rate Rapid Height 28 cm Width 34-36 cm Stem Color Yellow-green 148A Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Present Stem Anthocyanin Coloration Absent Length of lateral branch From top to bottom 12-13 cm Lateral branch color Yellow-green 148A Lateral branch, attachment Brittle Branching (average number of Good with 6-7 breaks after pinching lateral branches) Peduncle length 4.0-4.5 cm Peduncle color Yellow-green 148A Natural season blooming date August 15-25 Foliage Color Upper side yellow-green 147A Under side yellow-green 147B Size Small; length 4.5 cm, width 3.5 cm Quantity (number per lateral 8 branch) Shape Ovate Texture upper side Glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Serrated Shape of Base of Sinus Between Round Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Lateral Diverging Lobes Shape of Base Truncate Apex Mucronate Differences with the ‘ECHO’ ‘GABRIELLE’ comparison varieties Color of the upperside Yellow-orange Greyed-orange 169A, with a of the ray-florets 15A pattern of yellow-orange 16A Natural Blooming date August 15-25 October 1-10 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 